Kevin Smith Developing A TV Comedy About A Porn Star

Kevin Smith's better known for his films and his podcast than he is for television, but he's no newbie to the small screen, nor to Canadian television for that matter. But unlike his Canadian Comedy Network TV series Spoilers, the writer/director's latest TV endeavor is that of the scripted variety. Smith is developing a TV comedy centered around a former porn star who heads home in an effort to escape the industry.

THR says Smith is teaming with Saving Hope's Aaron Martin to develop the comedy, titled Prons, which "portrays a famous porn star who returns to his childhood home in Brantford, Ontario, to escape the business."

The comedy is being developed in partnership with Canadian pay TV channels The Movie Network and Movie Central. It joins Method -- a behind-the-scenes parody of a police procedural -- among the comedies in development at the network.

This isn't the first time Smith has worked a bit of fiction related to the adult film industry, as he wrote and directed Zack and Miri Make a Porno. The 2008 comedy starred Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks and centered on Zack and Miri, two best friends who are deep enough in financial struggles that they're willing to make a porn video in an effort to earn some money. In the case of Prons, it sounds like the reverse situation is happening, as the lead character is trying to get out of the porn business, which leads him back to his hometown.

As mentioned, Smith's not new to Canadian TV. He starred in and produced (through SModcast Pictures) Spoilers, a movie review series that had people viewing a movie and then discussing what they liked or didn't like about it. The series debuted at The Comedy Network in Canada in 2012 and has since been released on Hulu. It'll be interesting to see if Prons ends up getting similar treatment, in finding U.S. distribution -- either at Hulu or elsewhere -- so that fans in the States can check out the series.

Smith celebrated the announcement over at his Facebook page, reminding people that his new film Tusk will be playing Midnight Madness at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, and adding, "I've got a little more Canada love coming -- all over your faces, necks and Canadian chests: a TV show set in Gretzky's hometown of Brantford called PRONS."